Ceiling panel insert

ABSTRACT

A suspended ceiling panel system includes elongated insert members adapted to rest upon a frame gridwork conventionally used to support acoustical ceiling panels so as to support the panels in a elevated position. At least one insert member at each joint between adjacent insert members has a bevelled end so that adjacent insert members surrounding a common opening in the gridwork will brace each other whereby insert members around each opening are self-supporting and positively retained on the gridwork. Each insert member has an upper support surface upon which an acoustical panel is adapted to rest and a lower seating surface adapted to rest upon the frame gridwork whereby in the completed ceiling system, each acoustical panel is elevated relative to the gridwork defining recessed zones in the ceiling. The insert members may take various cross-sectional configurations to provide desired versatility in both acoustics and appearance.

United States Patent [191 [451 Aug. 13, 1974 Phillips CEILING PANEL INSERT [75] Inventor: Richard C. Phillips, Arvada, C010.

[73] Assignee: Insulation Ceiling & Supply,

Denver, C010.

[22] Filed: Sept. 15, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 289,244

[52] US. Cl. 52/475, 52/488 [51] Int. Cl E04b 5/52 [58] Field of Search 52/495, 475, 476, 488, 52/498, 502, 144, 145

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,153,304 10/1964 Evangelista 52/144 3,462,900 8/1969 Morrissey 52/495 X 3,543,464 12/1970 Taylor 52/475 3,546,842 12/1970 Blum 52/475 3,594,972 7/1971 Jones 52/311 X 3,616,588 11/1971 Hanssan 52/502 X 3,685,238 8/1972 Fisher et a]. 52/495 X Primary Examiner-Price C. Faw, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A suspended ceiling panel system includes elongated insert members adapted to rest upon a frame gridwork conventionally used to support acoustical ceiling panels so as to support the panels in a elevated position. At least one insert member at each joint between adjacent insert members has a bevelled end so that adjacent insert members surrounding a common opening in the gridwork will brace each other whereby insert members around each opening are self-supporting and positively retained on the gridwork. Each insert member has an upper support surface upon which an acoustical panel is adapted to rest and a lower seating surface adapted to rest upon the frame gridwork whereby in the completed ceiling system, each acoustical panel is elevated relative to the gridwork defining recessed zones in the ceiling. The insert members may take various cross-sectional configurations to provide desired versatility in both acoustics and appearance.

13 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PMENIEB m1: 1 3 1 3,828. 506

SHtET 1 OF 2 CEILING PANEL INSERT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to suspended ceiling systems for supporting acoustical panels or tiles, and more particularly to such a system including insert members enabling the acoustical panels to be elevated relative to the supporting gridwork to define recessed zones in the ceiling.

There have previously been provided a great variety of acoustical panel suspension systems, the number and variety being the result of efforts to create better sound absorption and to provide more aesthetically pleasing and interesting ceiling designs. Typical prior art suspension ceiling systems are disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,308,586 issued to K. C. Olson; U.S. Pat. No. 3,310,922 issued to G. A. Hoffman, .Ir.; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,385,020 issued to M. L. Olson.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The suspended ceiling system of the present invention was designed to improve sound absorption and to provide greater versatility in the aesthetic appearancev I of suspended ceilings. The improvements are obtained by providing insert members which are adapted to rest on the conventionally employed frame gridwork of suspended ceiling systems in surrounding relation to the openings in the gridwork so that acoustical panels or tiles can be supported in an elevated position on the inserts thereby creating an enlarged sound absorption surface and also aesthetically pleasing recessed zones which are easily variable by the cross-sectional configuration of the insert members.

More particularly, the panel insert members utilized in the suspension ceiling system of the present invention comprise elongated members adapted to rest on the supporting frame gridwork and an upper supporting surface for supporting conventional acoustical panels. Alternate ones of the insert members around a common opening have bevelled ends adapted to abut an adjacent insert member so that insert members around a common opening in the gridwork brace adjacent members in a self-supporting manner. Consequently, the inse rt members do not have to be anchored to the frame gridwork nor attached to each other, but merely set in place on the gridwork in surrounding relationship with the openings in the gridwork. The insert members may be adapted to hang over the frame gridwork so as to extend below the level of the gridwork or may be completely disposed above the gridwork depending upon the sound absorbing requirements and the desired appearance.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved suspended ceiling system wherein sound absorbing qualities as well as aesthetic qualities are variable.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a suspended ceiling system having-insert members adapted to seat on a supporting frame gridwork to elevate conventional acoustical panels such that recessed zones in the ceiling system are established.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a suspended ceiling system wherein insert members adapted to rest on supporting gridwork to elevate the acoustical panels are provided with bevelled end portions to brace adjacent insert members such that the members are self-supporting on the gridwork.

It is another object of the present invention to pro vide a suspended ceiling system having insert members adapted to seat on a supporting frame gridwork in a manner such that they may extend only above the gridwork or may partially extend below the gridwork to allow variance in sound absorbing qualities as well as aesthetic appearance of the system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more readily understood and appreciated from the following detailed description of preferred forms when taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned fragmentary perspective view of the suspended ceiling system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the ceiling system of FIG. 1 showing the ends of adjacent insert members;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan of the suspended ceiling system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section taken along line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an end view of a second embodiment of the insert members used in the ceiling system of FIG. 1 showing the cross-sectional configuration thereof;

FIG. 7 is another embodiment of the insert members used in the ceiling system of FIG. 1 showing the crosssectional configuration thereof;

FIG. 8 isan'other embodiment of the insert members used in the ceiling system of FIG. 1 showing the crosssectional configuration thereof;

FIG. 9 is another embodiment of the insert members used in the ceiling system of FIG. 1 showing the crosssectional configuration thereof; and

FIG. 10 is an end view of still a further embodiment of the insert members used in the ceiling system of FIG. 1 showing a cross-sectional configuration thereof.

. A DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The suspended ceiling system 10 of the present invention includes a suspended gridwork of frame members l2 comprised of runners 14 and cross pieces 16 defining quadrangular openings that are conventionally bridged by acoustical panels 18 to establish a desirable sound absorbing ceiling. For purposes of the present disclosure, the runners 14 and cross pieces 16 are shown in the form of inverted T-shaped rods which are suspended by conventional means that are not shown from an elevated location. In a conventional suspended ceiling system, the acoustical panels 18 are disposed to rest upon the flange portion 20 of the inverted T- shaped frame members 12 with the stem 22 of the frame members separating adjacent panels.

An important feature of applicants invention is the provision of insert members 24 and 25 adapted to rest on the flange portion 20 of the runners l4 and cross pieces 16 respectively so as to support the acoustical panels 18 in elevated positions relative to the frame members. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, the insert members 24 and 25 comprise elongated substantially solid bars, preferably of a sound absorbing material, having a flat seating surface 26 of substantially the same width as the flange uponwhich it is adapted to rest, a relatively large upper supporting surface 28 for supporting an acoustical panel 18, and an oblique inwardly and downwardly directed face 30 connecting the lower seating surface 26 with the upper supporting surface 28. The term substantially solid" means that each insert member defines a solid polygon in cross-section, i.e. it does not include a circumscribed void in its cross-section. By way of illustration and not limitation, desired aesthetic and acoustical results have been obtained by displacing the upper supporting surface 28 from the seating surface 26 approximately one inch. As shown best in FIG. 2, the longer insert members 24, adapted to rest on the runners 14, have flat ends 32, normal to the upper surface 28 and lower surface 26. The shorter insert members 25, adapted to rest on the cross pieces 16, have bevelled ends 33 tapering downwardly from the upper surface 28 to the lower seating surface 26 to fit in flush relationship with the oblique face 30 of an adjacent longer insert member 24. In this manner, the insert members around a common opening in the gridwork will serve to brace each other in a neat and attractive self-supporting manner whereby no other means of support for the insert members are required. Also, a uniform visual line of intersection 34 in each corner will be created at the interface between adjacent insert members even if the adjacent insert members are not cut to the precise desired length since the shorter insert member can fit against the longer member at any location along its length without altering the appearance of the corner. Accordingly, a suspended ceiling system incorporating the insert members can be easily installed merely by placing the insert members 24 upon supporting flanges 20 of the frame members, 12 in surrounding relationship with each or selected openings in the gridwork and subsequently laying conventional acoustical panels 18 across the supporting surfaces 28 of the insert members to establish the recessed effect best illustrated in FIG. 1.

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, it will be appreciated that each frame member 12 supports back-to-back insert members 24 or 25 which are held against the stem portion 22 of the associated frame member by abutment with the adjacent insert members as previously described. In this manner, the insert members are tightly retained in place, with the insert members associated with one opening being separated from the insert members associated with an adjacent opening by the stem portion 22 of the frame members. The acoustical panels 18 placed upon the insert members preferably do not abut each other so that they can be easily raised above the insert members to provide access to the space above the ceiling when desired.

Looking at FIG. 6, an alternative embodiment 35 of the insert members is disclosed having a lower seating surface 36 of a width approximately the same as the flange 20 of the frame member 12 and an upper supporting surface 38 for supporting an acoustical panel 18. Oppositely inclined inwardly directed faces 40 and 42 of the insert provide a different aesthetic appearance and sound absorbingquality, as will be explained later, than in the suspended ceiling system shown in FIGS. 1 through 5. Of course, the ends of each shorter insert member would be notched to mate with the faces 40 and 42 of a longer insert member corner provide the desired uniform line of intersection in each orner com- 4. parable to the line 34 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 5.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment 44 of the insert members wherein in the lower portion of the member is provided with a stepped arrangement defining an intermediate seating surface 46 adapted to rest upon the associated flange 20 of a frame member 12 and a depending portion 48 having a lower surface 50 below the level of the frame member 12. An upper panel supporting surface 52 is relatively large in comparison to the lower surface 50 so that a downwardly inclined inwardly directed face 54 of the insert member is established between the upper and lower surfaces and because of the depending portion 48 is larger than the corresponding face 30 of the insert members shown in FIGS. 1 through 5. It will be noticed that with this arrangement, the insert members overhang the frame members so that back-to-back inserts supported by a common frame member define a straight sided channel 56 which creates an interesting aesthetic appearance different from the appearance created by the embodiments disclosed in FIGS. 1 through 5 and 6. The shorter insert members would have bevelled ends as with the members 25 of FIGS. 1 through 5.

FIG. 8 discloses another embodiment 58 of the insert members wherein the lower portion 60 thereof is again stepped defining a seating surface 61 but this time the lower portion has oppositely inclined lower faces 62 and 64 separated by a lower surface 66. The lower portion 60 of the insert members extends laterally away from the stem portion 22' of the frame member 12 a greater distance than the top supporting surface 68 so that the inwardly directed face 70 extending between the top surface 68 of the lower portion 60 is inclined upwardly. Again a distinct aesthetic appearance is created with a channel 72 defined between back-to-back insert members on a common frame member, only in this embodiment the channel has outwardly divergent sides or faces 62 rather than the straight sides created by the embodiment shown in FIG. 7. The shorter insert members would be notched on the ends similarly to the arrangement of FIG. 6 to create neat and uniform corners.

FIG. 9 shows still another embodiment 74 of a solid insert member wherein the lower portion 76 is stepped defining a seating surface 78 adapted to rest upon the supporting flange 20 of a frame member 12 and having inner straight walls 80 terminating at a lower surface 82 of the insert which is substantially equal in width to an upper supporting surface 84. Accordingly, the inwardly directed face 86 connecting the lower surface 82 to the upper surface 84 is inclined upwardly and is substantially the same in size as the face 54 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7. Again, the shorter insert members would be provided with bevelled ends to mate with the face 86 of the longer insert members in the corners.

FIG. 10 shows a somewhat different arrangement from the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 through 9 and comprises an elongated channel shaped insert member 80 having a frame 90 with a lower seating plate portion 92 adapted to rest upon the supporting flange 20 of a frame member 12, a vertical plate portion 94 adapted to abut against the stem 22 of the supporting frame member 12, and an upper supporting plate portion 96 adapted to support an acoustical panel 18. Angularly related extensions 98 and 100 are provided from the ends of the upper and lower plate portions 96 and 92 respectively, each extension defining an opposing open groove 102 and 104 respectively, adapted to slidably receive a removable inwardly facing panel 106 inclining downwardly to bridge the opening in the channel shaped insert frame between the extensions 98 and 100. The panel 106 may be made of clear or opaque plastic shaded to any desirable color so that conventional elongated lamps 108 disposed in the hollow area defined by the frame 90 and the panel 106 would illuminate or provide a decorative effect for a room. The frame 90 as well as the panel 106 of the shorter insert members would have bevelled ends to mate with the frame and panel of the longer insert members in the corners to provide a consistently neat appearance.

It will thus be appreciated that a suspended ceiling system has been described wherein self-supporting insert members rest on the frame gridwork whereby a recessed effect is created. The recessed effect not only creates a means for establishing interesting ceiling designs from an aesthetic standpoint, but also increases the surface area of the ceiling so that the sound absorbing quality or efficiency of the ceiling is improved correspondingly.

Although the present invention has been decribed with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example and that changes in details of structure may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In a suspended ceiling system having a gridwork of supports defining supporting ledges around openings in which acoustical panels are adapted to be suspended, the improvement comprising a plurality of insert members around each opening adapted to rest upon said supporting ledges normal to and in abutting relationship with the ends of adjacent ones of said insert members, each insert member being a solid polygon in cross-section, at least some of said insert members having end portions complementary to the ends of adjacent insert members whereby the insert members around each of said openings are self-supporting and will brace adjacent insert members to positively retain said insert members on the supporting ledges, rear supporting wall surfaces and upper horizontal support surfaces on said insert members for supporting an acoustical panel in a position elevated from said supporting ledges to create a recessed zone in each opening of the ceiling system.

2. In the suspended ceiling system of claim 1, said insert members comprising substantially solid elongated bars.

3. In the suspended ceiling system of claim 2, said elongated bars having an upper supporting surface for supporting said acoustical panels and a lower stepped portion defining a seating surface adapted to engage the associated supporting ledge and a depending portion extending below said supporting ledge.

4. In the suspended ceiling system of claim 3, said elongated bars having an inclined face between said depending portion and said upper supporting surface which is directed downwardly.

5. In the suspended ceiling system of claim 3, said elongated bars having an inclined face between said depending portion and said upper surface which is directed upwardly.

6. In the suspended ceiling system of claim 3, said elongated bars having oppositely inclined faces between said depending portion and said upper supporting surface.

7. In the suspended ceiling system of claim 2, each of said elongated bars having a lower horizontal seating surface engaging the associated supporting ledge on one side opposite to the upper supporting surface for supporting said acoustical panels.

8. In the suspended ceiling system of claim 7, said elongated bars having oppositely inclined faces between said seating and supporting surfaces.

9. In the suspended ceiling system of claim 7, each of said elongated bars having a downwardly directed inclined face between said lower seating and upper supporting surfaces with the supporting surface being wider than the seating surface.

10. In the suspended ceiling system of claim 9, said end portions comprising bevelled end surfaces adapted to fit flush against bevelledend portions of an adjacent insert member.

11. In a suspended ceiling system having a gridwork of inverted T-shaped supports defining horizontal supporting ledges around quadrangular openings in which acoustical panels are adapted to be suspended, the improvement comprising insert members adapted to be seated on the horizontal supporting ledges of the inverted Tshaped supports in back-to-back relationship, the insert members having bevelled ends adapted to abut against the bevelled ends of adjacent insert mem' bers associated with the same quadrangular opening so that the insert members around each opening will be self-supporting and thereby be positively retained on associated ledges, each insert member being comprised of a solid polygon in cross-section having a rear wall surface abutting the upright portion of the inverted T- shaped support, a lower surface resting on an associated supporting ledge, an upper surface supporting an acoustical panel and at least one inwardly directed face so that the insert members and acoustical panels define recessed zones in the quadrangular openings of the ceiling system.

12. In a suspended ceiling system having a gridwork of inverted T-shaped supports defining supporting ledges around openings in which acoustical panels are adapted to be suspended, the improvement comprising at least one releasable insert member surrounding each opening and resting upon said supporting ledges in a self-supporting manner, each said insert member being a solid polygon in cross-section having a lower seating surface resting upon a supporting ledge, a rear wall abutting the upright portion of the supporting ledge and an upper supporting surface for supporting an acoustical panel whereby the panel will be elevated relative to the supporting ledges creating recessed zones in each of the openings of the ceiling system.

13. In the suspended ceiling system of claim 12, said upper supporting surface being displaced from said lower seating surface approximately one inch.

jg ggg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 3,828,506 Dated August 3; 1974 Inventor( s) Richard 0, Phillips .It is certified that error appears inthe'above-idantified patent and that saidLetters P atent;.are hereby 'co'rreoted as shown below:

In the Description of the Preferred Embodiment:

I Column 3, line'65,' cancel "corner" and substitute 1ine,66 -canoel '.'orn e=n: "v andsubstitute Signed and sealed this 19th day of November 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON JR, c'fMARsHALL DANN At'testing Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. In a suspended ceiling system having a gridwork of supports defining supporting ledges around openings in which acoustical panels are adapted to be suspended, the improvement comprising a plurality of insert members around each opening adapted to rest upon said supporting ledges normal to and in abutting relationship with the ends of adjacent ones of said insert members, each insert member being a solid polygon in crosssection, at least some of said insert members having end portions complementary to the ends of adjacent insert members whereby the insert members around each of said openings are self-supporting and will brace adjacent insert members to positively retain said insert members on the supporting ledges, rear supporting wall surfaces and upper horizontal support surfaces on said insert members for supporting an acoustical panel in a position elevated from said supporting ledges to create a recessed zone in each opening of the ceiling system.
 2. In the suspended ceiling system of claim 1, said insert members comprising substantially solid elongated bars.
 3. In the suspended ceiling system of claim 2, said elongated bars having an upper supporting surface for supporting said acoustical panels and a lower stepped portion defining a seating surface adapted to engage the associated supporting ledge and a depending portion extending below said supporting ledge.
 4. In the suspended ceiling system of claim 3, said elongated bars having an inclined face between said depending portion and said upper supporting surface which is directed downwardly.
 5. In the suspended ceiling system of claim 3, said elongated bars having an inclined face between said depending portion and said upper surface which is directed upwardly.
 6. In the suspended ceiling system of claim 3, said elongated bars having oppositely inclined faces between said depending portion and said upper supporting surface.
 7. In the suspended ceiling system of claim 2, each of said elongated bars having a lower horizontal seating surface engaging the associated supporting ledge on one side opposite to the upper supporting surface for supporting said acoustical panels.
 8. In the suspended ceiling system of claim 7, said elongated bars having oppositely inclined faces between said seating and supporting surfaces.
 9. In the suspended ceiling system of claim 7, each of said elongated bars having a downwardly directed inclined face between said lower seating and upper supporting surfaces with the supporting surface being wider than the seating surface.
 10. In the suspended ceiling system of claim 9, said end portions comprising bevelled end surfaces adapted to fit flush against bevelled end portions of an adjacent insert member.
 11. In a suspended ceiling system having a gridwork of inverted T-shaped supports defining horizontal supporting ledges around quadrangular openings in which acoustical panels are adapted to be suspended, the improvement comprising insert members adapted to be seated on the horizontal supporting ledges of the inverted T-shaped supports in back-to-back relationship, the insert members having bevelled ends adapted to abut against the bevelled ends of adjacent insert members associated with the same quadrangular opening so that the insert members around each opening will be self-supporting and thereby be positively retained on associated ledges, each insert member being comprised of a solid polygon in cross-section having a rear wall surface abutting the upright portion of the inverted T-shaped support, a lower surface resting on an associated supporting lEdge, an upper surface supporting an acoustical panel and at least one inwardly directed face so that the insert members and acoustical panels define recessed zones in the quadrangular openings of the ceiling system.
 12. In a suspended ceiling system having a gridwork of inverted T-shaped supports defining supporting ledges around openings in which acoustical panels are adapted to be suspended, the improvement comprising at least one releasable insert member surrounding each opening and resting upon said supporting ledges in a self-supporting manner, each said insert member being a solid polygon in cross-section having a lower seating surface resting upon a supporting ledge, a rear wall abutting the upright portion of the supporting ledge and an upper supporting surface for supporting an acoustical panel whereby the panel will be elevated relative to the supporting ledges creating recessed zones in each of the openings of the ceiling system.
 13. In the suspended ceiling system of claim 12, said upper supporting surface being displaced from said lower seating surface approximately one inch. 